Tiered programming television delivery system

ABSTRACT

A method is disclosed for delivering television programming, including advertisements, to subscribers using a tiered video system. Advertisements or other video programs are associated with a plurality of channels, one or more of which may be used for programs. The user selects a program on a first channel for display on a television. The method switches the television from the first channel to a second channel having a video program, such as an advertisement. For example, the system displays programming from the first channel and displays an advertisement from a second channel during a commercial break in the program. After displaying the advertisement, the method switches the television channel back to the program channel. The channel switching is transparent to the user, and the advertisement may be a targeted selected from a group of advertisements to most closely associate with a profile of the subscriber stored in memory.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 07/991,074, filed Dec. 9, 1992, which is incorporated herein byreference as if fully set forth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to television entertainment systems for providingtelevision programming to consumer homes. More particularly, theinvention relates to cable television packaging, delivery andpresentation systems which provide consumers with many televisionprogramming options.

Advances in television entertainment have been primarily driven bybreakthroughs in technology. In 1939, advances on Vladmir Zworykin'spicture tube provided the stimulus for NBC to begin its first regularbroadcasts. In 1975, advances in satellite technology provided consumerswith increased programming to homes.

Many of these technology breakthroughs have produced inconvenientsystems for consumers. One example is the ubiquitous three remotecontrol home, having a separate and unique remote control for the TV,cable box and VCR. More recently, technology has provided cable users incertain parts of the country with 100 channels of programming. Thisincreased program capacity is beyond the ability of many consumers touse effectively. No method of managing the program choices has beenprovided to consumers.

Consumers are demanding that future advances in televisionentertainment, particularly programs and program choices, be presentedto the consumer in a user friendly manner. Consumer preferences, insteadof technological breakthroughs, will drive the television entertainmentmarket for at least the next 20 years. As computer vendors haveexperienced a switch from marketing new technology in computer hardwareto marketing better useability, interfaces and service, the televisionentertainment industry will also experience a switch from new technologydriving the market to consumer useability driving the market.

Consumers want products incorporating new technology that are useful,and will no longer purchase new technology for the sake of novelty orstatus. Technological advances in sophisticated hardware are beginningto surpass the capability of the average consumer to use the newtechnology. Careful engineering must be done to make entertainmentproducts incorporating new technology useful and desired by consumers.

In order for new television entertainment products to be successful, theproducts must satisfy consumer demands. TV consumers wish to go fromlimited viewing choices to a variety of choices, from no control ofprogramming to complete control. Consumers wish to advance fromcumbersome and inconvenient television to easy and convenient televisionand keep costs down. Consumers do not wish to pay for one hundredchannels when due to lack of programming information, they seldom, ifever, watch programming on many of these channels.

The concepts of interactive television, high definition television and300 channel cable systems in consumer homes will not sell if they arenot packaged, delivered and presented in a useable fashion to consumers.The problem is that TV programming is not being managed, packaged,delivered, and presented to consumers in a user friendly manner.

Consumers are already being bombarded with programming options, numerous“free” cable channels, subscription cable channels and pay-per-viewchoices. Any further increase in TV entertainment choices, without auser friendly presentation and approach, will likely bewilder viewerswith a mind-numbing array of choices.

The TV industry has traditionally marketed and sold its programs toconsumers in bulk, such as continuous feed broadcast and long-termsubscriptions to movie channels. The TV industry is unable to sell itsprogramming in large quantities on a unit per unit basis, such as theordering of one program. Consumers prefer a unit sales approach becauseit keeps costs down and allows the consumer to be more selective intheir viewing.

Additionally, viewership fragmentation, which has already begun, willincrease. Programming not presented in a user friendly manner willsuffer with a decrease in viewership and revenue.

What is needed is an economical system which can gather televisionprogramming in a variety of formats, package the programs, deliver theprograms, and present the programs through a user friendly interfacewhich allows the consumer to easily select from among the many programchoices. The system must be capable of handling hundreds of programs indifferent formats, be expandable for future types of programming,include a method for billing consumers, and be inexpensive. The presentinvention is addressed to fulfill these needs.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A method is disclosed for delivering television programming, includingadvertisements, to subscribers using a tiered video system.Advertisements or other video programs are associated with a pluralityof channels, one or more of which may be used for programs. The userselects a program on a first channel for display on a television. Themethod switches the television from the first channel to a secondchannel having a video program, such as an advertisement. For example,the system displays programming from the first channel and displays anadvertisement from a second channel during a commercial break in theprogram. After displaying the advertisement, the method switches thetelevision channel back to the program channel. The channel switching istransparent to the user, and the advertisement may be a targetedselected from a group of advertisements to most closely associate with aprofile of the subscriber stored in memory.

An expanded cable television program delivery system dramaticallyincreases programming capacity using compressed transmission oftelevision program signals. Developments in digital bandwidthcompression technology now allow much greater throughput of televisionprogram signals over existing or slightly modified transmission media.The program delivery system provides subscribers with a user friendlyinterface to operate and exploit a six-fold or more increase in currentprogram delivery capability.

Subscribers will be able to access the expanded program package and viewselected programs through a menu-driven access scheme that allows eachsubscriber to select individual programs by sequencing a series ofmenus. The menus are sequenced by the subscriber using simplealpha-numeric and iconic character access, allowing the subscriber toaccess desired programs by simply pressing a single button rather thanrecalling from memory and pressing the actual two or more digit numericnumber assigned to a selection. Thus, with the press of single buttons,the subscriber can advance from one menu to the next. In this fashion,the subscriber can sequence the menus and select a program from anygiven menu. The programs are grouped by category so that select aprogram from any given menu. The programs are grouped by category sothat similar program offerings are found on the same menu.

System Description

1. Major System Components

In its most basic form, the system uses a program delivery system inconjunction with a conventional cable television system. The programdelivery system contemplates (i) at least one operations center, whereprogram packaging and control information are received and thenassembled in the form of digital data, and (ii) a digital compressionsystem, where the digital data is compressed, combined/multiplexed,encoded, and mapped into digital signals for satellite transmission(i.e., modulated, upconverted and amplified). The program deliverysystem transports the digital signals to the concatenated cabletelevision system where the signals are received at the cable headend.Within the cable headend, the received signals may be decoded,demultiplexed, managed by a local central distribution and switchingmechanism and then transmitted to subscriber homes via the cable system.

The delivery system employs an in-home decompression capabilityemploying a decompressor housed within a set-top terminal in eachsubscriber's home. The decompressor remains transparent from thesubscriber's point of view and allows any of the compressed signals tobe demultiplexed and individually extracted from the composite datastream and then individually decompressed upon selection of acorresponding program by the subscriber. Within the set-top terminal,video signals are converted into analog signals. Control signals areextracted, decompressed and either executed immediately or placed inlocal storage in a ROM. The program control signals correspond tospecific television programs with menu program options that eachsubscriber may access through a subscriber interface. The subscriberinterface is a combined alpha, numeric and iconic remote control devicewhich provides direct or menu-driven program access.

An array of menu templates are generated by a either a computer programwithin the set-top terminal or by the cable headend. The menu templatesare generated using the program control information signals receivedfrom the Operations Center. A computer program within the set topterminal generates the on-screen menu displays and allocates a specificmenu program option for each program signal. A combined alpha andnumeric remote control provides the user interface to each programsignal, allowing selection of a specific menu option which correspondsto a particular program signal.

2. Operations Center and Digital Compression System

The Operations Center performs two primary services, packagingtelevision programs and generating the program control signal. At theOperations Center television programs are accumulated from varioussources in both analog and digital form. The programs are then packagedinto groups and categories which allow for easy menu access to programsand provides optimal marketing of programs to subscribers. The packagingprocess also accounts for any groupings by transponder which arenecessary. After a packaging scheme is developed, the program controlinformation which, among other things, describes the packaging, isgenerated by a computer and delivered with the packaged programs to thehead end and/or subscriber. The system also accommodates local cable andtelevision companies with programming time for local advertising and/orprogramming time availability.

The delivery system employs digital compression techniques to increaseexisting satellite transponder capacity by at least a 6:1 ratio,resulting in a six-fold increase in program delivery capability. Theinput signals are compressed, combined and encoded prior to satellitetransmission, and subsequently transponded to various receive sites.There are a number of compression algorithms that presently exist whichcan achieve the resultant increase in capacity and improved signalquality desired for the invention.

3. System Control

Network management, control and monitoring of all compressors anddecompressors in the network, is performed by a network controller atthe cable headend, where program selection activity, and account andbilling information is monitored. In the preferred embodiment, thenetwork controller monitors, among other things, automatic poll-backresponses from the set-top terminals remotely located at eachsubscribers' home. The polling and automatic report-back cycle occursfrequently enough to allow the network controller to maintain accurateaccount and billing information as well as monitor authorized channelaccess. In the simplest embodiment, information to be sent to thenetwork controller will be stored in ROM within each subscriber'sset-top terminal and retrieved only upon polling by the networkcontroller.

Control information from the set top terminal will be sent to thenetwork controller at the cable headend and not directly to theoperations center. The digital compression and delivery system of thepreferred embodiment provides a one-way path from the Operations Centerto the cable headend. Thus, program monitoring and selection controlwill take place only at the cable headend by the local cable company andits decentralized network controllers (i.e., decentralized relative tothe Operations Center which is central to the program delivery system).The local cable company will in turn be in communication with theoperations center or a regional control center which accumulates returndata from the set-top terminal for statistical or billing purposes.Alternatively, the operations center, and statistical and billing sitescould be collocated.

4. Menu-Driven Program Selection

At a given receive site, any of the compressed signals may bedemultiplexed or individually extracted from the data stream and passedfrom the cable headend over the cable system to the subscriber's set-topterminal. Within the set-top terminal, the individual compressed signalsare decompressed and either placed in local storage (from which the menutemplate may be created), executed immediately, or sent directly to thescreen. A combined alpha, numeric and iconic remote control deviceprovides the subscriber interface to the system.

Through this interface, the subscriber may select desired programmingthrough the systems menu-driven scheme or by directly accessing aspecific channel by its actual number. The menu-driven scheme providesthe subscriber with one-step access to all major menus, ranging from hitmovies to specialty programs. From any of the major menus, thesubscriber can in turn access submenus and minor menus by alphacharacter access. By using menu-driven, iconic or alpha-characteraccess, the subscriber can access desired programs by simply pressing asingle button rather than recalling from memory and pressing the actualchannel number to make a selection. The subscriber can access regularbroadcast and basic cable television stations by using either thenumeric keys on the remote control and pressing the correspondingchannel number, or one of the menu icon selection options.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of the overall system design.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of the primary components of the invention.

FIG. 3 a is a diagram of the bandwidth allocation for a 750 mHz system.

FIG. 3 b is a diagram/chart of the compressed channel allocation for thesystem.

FIG. 3 c is a diagram showing how three cable television systems withdifferent bandwidths may use the program delivery system of the presentinvention simultaneously.

FIG. 3 d is a diagram showing three different cable headend systems,each system receiving the entire satellite signal and stripping thoseparts of the signal which cannot be handled by the local cable system.

FIG. 3 e is a diagram showing dynamic change in bandwidth allocationfrom a typical week day prime time signal.

FIG. 4 a is a block diagram of the Operations Center and Master ControlSite.

FIG. 4 b is a block diagram of the computer assisted packaging shown inFIG. 4 a.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the processing occurring at the OperationsCenter.

FIG. 6 is a chart of the program control information carried by theprogram control information signal.

FIG. 7 a is a block diagram of the internals of the set top terminal.

FIG. 7 b is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of theinternals of the set top terminal.

FIG. 8 a is a perspective front view of a set top terminal.

FIG. 8 b is a perspective rear view of a set top terminal.

FIG. 9 a is a schematic of a basic decompression box and upgrade module,with the associated connections.

FIG. 9 b is a schematic of an alternative embodiment of a simpledecompression unit and upgrade module, with associated connections.

FIG. 10 a is a drawing of storage for on-screen menu templates stored ingraphics memory of the set top terminal.

FIG. 10 b is a drawing showing the hierarchical storage of graphicsmemory for the set top terminal.

FIG. 10 c is a drawing of a flow chart showing the steps required forthe microprocessor to retrieve, combine and display a menu.

FIG. 10 d is a drawing of a flow chart showing the steps required forthe microprocessor to sequence program menus.

FIG. 11 a is a schematic showing the two parts of a remote control unit.

FIG. 11 b is a drawing of the complete remote control derived from FIG.11 a.

FIG. 12 a is a perspective view of the preferred remote control unit ofthe present invention.

FIG. 12 b is another drawing of the preferred remote control unit shownin FIG. 12 a.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of the progression of primary menus in the menudriven system of the set top terminal.

FIG. 14 a is a drawing of the basic menus used in the present invention,including the ten major menus represented by icons.

FIG. 14 b is a drawing of the basic menus used in the present invention,in addition to FIG. 14 a.

FIGS. 15 a-15 b are drawings of introductory menus.

FIGS. 16 a-16 e are drawings of menus related to program guide services.

FIGS. 17 a-17 c are drawings of interactive television promotionalmenus, for Levels A-C.

FIGS. 17 d-17 j are drawings of submenus for interactive televisionservices, Level A.

FIGS. 18 a-18 l are drawings of interactive services, Level B,particularly related to on-screen airline reservations.

FIGS. 19 a-19 e are drawings of menus for digital audio services.

FIGS. 20-28 illustrate many of the menus presented in the precedingFigures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows an overview of the cable television menu driven programdelivery system 200. The Operations Center 202 is shown receivingexternal programming signals which correspond to particular programmingcategories that are available for a subscriber's viewing. These externalsignals may be in analog or digital form and may be received vialandline, microwave transmission, or satellite. Some of these externalsignals may be transmitted from the program source to the OperationsCenter 202 in compressed digital format or other nonstandard digitalformats. These external signals are received and packaged along withprogramming that is stored at the Operations Center 202 (not shownhere).

Examples of external program sources 204 shown in FIG. 1 are: Sportingevents, children's programs, documentaries, high definition TV sources,specialty a channels, interactive services, weather, news, and othernonfiction or entertainment. Any source that can provide either audio orvideo or both may be utilized to provide programming to the OperationsCenter 202.

After packaging, the packaged television program signal is prepared forsatellite transmission 206 and sent from the Operations Center 202 tothe cable headend 208 via satellite transmission 206. Depending on thespecific embodiment, the television program signal may need to becompressed, combined/multiplexed, encoded, mapped, modulated,upconverted and amplified. This system, which is intended to becompatible with existing C and Ku Band satellite transmission 206technologies, accepts video, audio and data signals ranging in signalquality, and input from a number of sources.

Upon receipt of the programming signal at the cable headend 208, thesignal is again treated if necessary and sent into a concatenated cablesystem to the subscriber's home. The signal reaches the subscribers homein a compressed format and must be decompressed prior to viewing.Included in the delivered program signal is information which enablesequipment at the subscriber's home to display menus for choosingparticular programs. Depending on the particular embodiment, thetelevision program signal may arrive at the subscriber's home via one ormore coaxial cables, fiber cables, twisted pairs, cellular telephoneconnections, or personal communications network (PCN) hookups.

This connection between the subscriber's home and the cable headend 208allows for two-way communications. Utilizing this two-waycommunications, the cable headend 208 receives information about asubscriber's account, billing, and programs viewed. Also, the cableheadend 208 is capable of sending computer data or computer softwareinformation to the subscriber's home.

As shown in FIG. 1, an analog cable TV system 210 can continue to existalongside and within the digitally compressed system of the presentinvention. The digital transmissions do not effect the analog system. Infact, the analog cable signal may be transmitted simultaneously on thesame cable as the digital signal. The cable headends may continue tosupply subscribers with local channels in an analog signal format.

FIG. 2 shows a more detailed overview of the operation of the presentinvention. The Operations Center 202 shown performs program packagingand delivery control. In the preferred embodiment, the packaged programsignal will be treated at a master control uplink site 211 prior tobeing transmitted to the satellite 206. Various satellitemulti-accessing schemes and architectures can be used with the system,including both single channel per transponder time division multiplex(TDM) and multiple channel per transponder single channel per carrier(SCPC). Time division multiplexing is the more desirable scheme. Thesignal is transmitted from the satellite 206 to the cable headend 208where a computer system including a digital switch treats the signal anddelivers it through cables to a subscriber's home. In alternateembodiments, multiple Operations Center 202 and multiple uplink sitescan be simultaneously utilized.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, two cables 216 are used between thecable headend 208 and the subscriber's home. In this particularembodiment, analog signals, digitally compressed signals, other digitalsignals and up-stream/interactivity signals are sent and received overthe two cables 216.

The cable headend 208 receives the digitally compressed and multiplexedsignal from the satellite 206 and processes the signal for furtherdistribution to the subscriber homes. The cable headend 208 performs twoprimary functions in the cable delivery system. It will act as a signalprocessor 212 and distribution center for routing the digitallycompressed signals to subscribers and it will act as a networkcontroller 214 receiving information from subscribers and passing theinformation on to the Operations Center 202 or other remote sites (suchas regional, statistical and billing sites not shown). In order toperform these two functions, the cable headend 208 of the preferredembodiment is equipped with two computer processors working in unison.Use of two processors performing different functions increases the speedand capability of the cable headend 208 without a significant increasein cost. One processor, the signal processor 212, handles the receivingand processing of the satellite 206 signal for distribution tosubscribers. The second processor acts as a network controller 214 andmonitors activity of the subscriber's set top terminal 220. The cableheadend 208 can be operated by one CPU or a series of CPU's whichperform the signal processing and network control functions.

The signal processor 212 will treat the signal as necessary for use bythe subscriber's set top terminal 220. In the simplest embodiment, theamount of processing that is necessary by the signal processor 212 islimited to demultiplexing and frequency allocation. However, inalternative embodiments, the signal processor 212 demultiplexes thesignal, allocates frequencies and then re-multiplexes the signal using adifferent multiplexing scheme prior to the signal's distribution to thesubscriber. In addition, for embodiments in which the control of localavailability time is desired at the cable headend 208, the signalprocessor 212 must be capable of compressing and adding additionalsignals to the satellite 206 signal. In order to incorporate localprogramming, the signal processor 212 would demultiplex the satellite206 signal, compress the local programming, combine the compressed localprogram with the satellite 206 signal and then multiplex the signalprior to delivery to the subscriber terminals. Most of the activitiesnecessary for incorporating local programming will be automaticallyperformed by the signal processor 212. In the preferred embodiment, thesignal processor 212 incorporates all the necessary digital switchingcapability to serve numerous subscribers.

Signals received by the cable headend 208 must be decompressed beforetransmission from headend to subscriber location only when thecompression algorithm used for the cable system differs from the oneused for satellite transmission 206. This difference may result fromdifferent bandwidth constraints between the cable transmission media andthe satellite 206 transponder. Such a difference would necessitate theuse of separate compression algorithms to maintain desired signalquality and throughput over both of the transmission mediums.

System control is performed by the network controller 214. The primarytask of the network controller 214 at the cable headend 208 is to managethe configuration of the set top terminals, which includes receiving andprocessing signals from the set top terminal units. The networkcontroller 214 must also monitor selections at subscribers' homes,maintain accurate account and billing information, authorize subscriberchannel access, and authorize particular set top terminals to operate inthe system. Information required to operate the network will be storedin memory (either in RAM, ROM, magnetic or optical Read/Write) at thecable headend 208 and also in memory (RAM and/or ROM) within eachsubscriber's set top terminal 220. Two-way communications between thenetwork controller 214 and set top terminal 220 will occur over cablelines. Interactive television programming can be accommodated throughthe network controller 214. In addition, the network controller 214 willbe able to access set top terminals via phone lines for troubleshooting, special features or sophisticated reprogramming.

The network controller 214 regularly polls each set top terminal 220 toacquire needed information to operate the system. The network controller214 sends signals to set top terminals to authorize their operation andto authorize access to specific channels. If a subscriber has failed topay a recent bill, the network controller 214 can deauthorize thesubscriber's set top terminal 220. When a subscriber orders a program orchannel the network controller 214 checks the subscriber's account forgood standing and then authorizes the access by signaling the set topterminal 220.

To perform its functions, the network controller 214 must work closelywith the signal processor 212. In many instances the program controlinformation signal received from the Operations Center 202 must bemodified prior to being sent to the set top terminals. Thesemodifications to the program control information are made by the networkcontroller 214 working in conjunction with the signal processor 212 tosend a set top terminal 220 control information stream (STTCIS). Fromthe signal processor 212, the network controller 214 receives theprogram control information signal which includes cable franchisespecific information added by the Operations Center 202. The networkcontroller 214 modifies the program control information signal, ifnecessary, and communicates the new information to the signal processor212. The signal processor 212 then forwards the information to the settop terminal 220 in the form of the STTCIS. In most instances thenetwork controller 214 will modify the program control informationsignal by adding additional information. In a simple embodiment theprogram control information signal can be passed through the cableheadend 208 to the set top terminal 220 without any modifications.

Although the signal processor 212 will handle the addition of simplelocal availabilities (e.g. local advertisements) into the signal sent tothe set top terminal 220, the network controller 214 will handle any ofthe more sophisticated local programming needs such as interactiveprogramming and certain data services. The network controller 214 willreceive any electronic signals sent by the set top terminal 220including those in response to interactive service requests and somedata service requests. The network controller 214 coordinates thenecessary switching and access to allow the subscriber to enjoy theseservices.

The network controller 214 has the capability of performing “on the flyprogramming” changes, assisting in masking portions of subscriber'stelevision screens (split screen video), assist in selecting differentaudio signals for the same video (foreign languages), assist ininteractive features, create tiered programming, etc. For last minutechanges to programming (such as for a local emergency or importantregional events), an operator using the network controller 214 canmodify the program control information signal “on the fly” and changemenus available to the subscriber. This accommodates short noticechanges to program packaging that can not be provided to the OperationsCenter 202 in advance. In order to accommodate split screen techniquesfor promo and demo video (which will be described later), thoseundesired video portions of the screen must be masked. The networkcontroller 214 can send the necessary control information to inform theset top terminal 220 to mask portions of a specific channel's video. Forexample, a video channel with a split screen showing four separatevideos would require a ¾ mask to focus the viewer on the featured videoclip.

Tiered programming allows different users to view different video eventhough they are “tuned” to the same channel. For example, the networkcontroller 214 may know the demographics of its subscriber's through adatabase, by “learning” from prior subscriber choices, from aninteractive selection, or from other means. Using the demographicsinformation, the network controller 214 may target commercials to thecorrect audience by showing different commercials to subscriber's withdifferent demographics. Even though subscriber's will believe they are“tuned” to one channel, they will be switched to a different channel forthe tiered video. Alternatively, the subscriber's may be offered anoption of several commercials from which to choose.

To accommodate foreign speaking subscribers, multiple audio channels fortelevision programming may be provided. The subscriber may be shownmenus of programs available in his native language. The function ofchoosing the correct audio to correspond to the selected language may behandled by either the set top terminal 220 or the network controller 214depending upon the configuration. Local programming in several languagesor additional audio channels for a foreign language translation of apopular television program may be provided by the network controller214. Using a picture-on-picture feature, sign language may be similarlymade available to certain set top terminals for the deaf. Also, a textoverlay may be easily produced on the lower part of the screen for thedeaf.

In the more sophisticated and expensive embodiments, the networkcontroller 214 can act as a central computer and provide intra-set topterminal interactive games, inter-set top terminal interactive games,computer bulletin board type services, message services (Electronicmail) etc. For example, a subscriber may play war games with six of his(anonymous) fellow subscribers each in their own home each operating aseparate tank. The network controller 214 gathers the players via settop terminal communications and acts as the referee. A bulletin board ormessage system can be set up to discuss a particular program such as“Twin Peaks Whodunit” for enthusiasts. These interactive features arefurther described below with the interactive services level B menu andthe set top terminal hardware upgrade level B interactive unit.

Also shown in FIG. 2 is the set top terminal 220 that receives thesignals from the cable headend 208 and manipulates them for thesubscriber. The set top terminal 220 is equipped with local computermemory and the capability of interpreting the digitally compressedsignal to produce menus for the subscriber. Although the set topterminal 220 is shown on top of the subscriber's television 222, it maybe placed anywhere in the subscriber's home that is accessible by theremote control. The remote control communicates the subscriber'sselections to the set top terminal 220. The subscriber's selections aregenerally based upon menus or other prompts displayed on the televisionscreen. A typical menu is shown in FIG. 2 on the television screen.

One of the achievements of the present invention is effectiveutilization of digital compression technology by packaging televisionprograms into categories that allow easy access to television programsby consumers. With current digital compression techniques for video, thetypical 50-channel capacity cable satellite receiving system can beincreased to 300 channels. Presently, one transponder is used for eachsatellite delivered channel. The preferred embodiment uses 18 satellitetransponders and compression ratios of 4/1 to 8/1 to achieve a capacityof 136 satellite delivered channels. More transponders or highercompression ratios can be used to deliver up to the channel capacity ofany existing cable system.

Typical program packaging and delivery first involves the digitizing ofthe video signals. This is then followed by one of a variety of digitalcompression techniques that are available. Following compression thechannels must be multiplexed and sent to the satellite 206 dish thatwill provide the uplink. A variety of multiplexing schemes may be usedin the system. In some situations, it may be advantageous to usedifferent multiplexing schemes in different parts of the overall system.In other words, one multiplexing scheme may be used for satellitetransmission 206 and a second remultiplexing scheme for the landtransmission.

Once the signal has arrived at the uplink or master control site, itmust be modulated, upconverted, and amplified. Various types ofsatellites and transponders capable of handling digital signals may beused in this cable television packaging and delivery system. An exampleof a digital satellite that may be used is the AT&T Telstar 303.

In order to achieve the required throughput of video and audioinformation for the system, digital compression techniques for video areemployed. A television signal is first digitized. The object ofdigitization is two-fold: First, in the case of an analog signal, like atelevision picture, digitization allows the signal to be converted froma wave-form into a digital binary format. Secondly, standard digitalformats are designed to have the resulting pictures or video stills takeup less space on their respective storage mediums. Essentially, standarddigital formats define methods of compression.

A video screen is divided into picture elements known as pixels. Imagesdefine one pixel at a time are referred to as “bit-mapped” images. Mostcompression techniques take the bit-mapped images and convert them intoa series of mathematical algorithms both to reduce storage space and toallow for the mathematical manipulation of images that is often notpossible with analog formats. This is possible because many images havepixels that repeat themselves. For example, a photograph of a blue,cloudless sky will have a great number of “repeating” picture elements.This redundancy can be represented with great precision by mathematicalformulas. Finally, once images have digitized, the standard digitizedformats also include techniques required to re-render the images intotheir final form, either fully bit-mapped or into an analog wave-form.There are three basic digital compression techniques: within-frame(intraframe), frame-to-frame (interframe), and within-carrier.Intraframe compression processes each frame in a television picture tocontain fewer visual details and, therefore, the picture contains fewerdigital bits. For example, information on blocks of pixels is sentrather than individual digitized pixels themselves. A six by six blockof pixels contains thirty-six pixels. Each pixel can be defined by aneight-bit word. Therefore, a six by six block of pixels equals twohundred eighty-eight bits. If the information on the block rather thanthe individual pixels themselves, is transmitted, this reduces theamount of information transmitted. Blocks of various sizes may be usedas is known by those skilled in the art.

Interframe compression transmits only changes between frames, thusomitting elements repeated in successive frames. Motion predictiontechnology and motion detection technology are necessary to determinewhat portions of a changing picture may be compressed. Therefore, if ablock does not vary between several frames, the block is transmittedonce, and repeated at the receive site for successive frames.

Within-carrier compression allows the compression ratio to dynamicallyvary depending upon the amount of changes between frames. If a largenumber of changes occur between frames, the compression ratio dropsfrom, for example, sixteen-to-one to eight-to-one. If action is intense,the compression ratio may dip to four to one.

Various compression methods are used for the above techniques. In vectorquantization, a block is compared to a library of standard blocks and abest fit comparison is made between the two. Each block in the libraryhas a corresponding sixteen bit code. Only this code is transmitted torepresent the block, rather than the actual block of pixels itself.Therefore, a two hundred eighty-eight bit block of pixels is convertedinto a sixteen bit code resulting in a compression ratio of: 288 bits/16bits'18. The converse process is performed at the receive site toconvert the sixteen bit codes into two hundred eighty-eight bit blocksfor reproduction on a television receiver. Other types of compressionare known to those skilled in the art, including, for example, discretecosine transform (“DCT”).

Several standard digital formats representing both digitizing standardsand compression standards have been developed. For example, JPEG (jointphotographic experts group) is a standard for single picturedigitization. Motion picture digitization may be represented bystandards such as MPEG or MPEG2 (motion picture engineering groupspecification). Other proprietary standards have been developed inaddition to these. Although MPEG and MPEG2 for motion pictures arepreferred in the present invention, any reliable digital format withcompression may be used with the present invention.

Various hybrids of the above compression techniques have been developedby several companies including AT&T, Compression Labs, Inc., GeneralInstrument, Scientific-Atlanta, Philips, and Zenith. As is known bythose skilled in the art, any of the compression techniques developed bythese companies, and other known techniques, may be used with thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 a shows effective allocation of 750 mHz of bandwidth fortelevision programming. In FIG. 3 a bandwidth is allocated for bothanalog and digitally compressed signals. In the preferred embodiment,the bandwidth is divided so that each category of program receives aportion of the bandwidth. These categories correspond with major menusof the user interface software. The representative categories shown inFIG. 3 a include: (1) high definition TV made possible through the useof compression technology, (2) A La Carte Channel category whichprovides specialty channels for subscription periods such as monthly,and (3) pay-per-view.

FIG. 3 b shows a chart of compressed channel allocation for a variety ofprogramming categories that have been found to be desirable tosubscribers. By grouping similar shows or a series of shows into blocksof channels, the system is able to more conveniently display similarprogramming with on-screen television menus. For example, in the moviecategory, which has the greatest allocation of channels, the same moviemay be shown continuously and simultaneously on different channels. Eachchannel starts the movie at a different time allowing the subscriber tochoose a more suitable movie starting time.

In order to accommodate cable TV systems that have different bandwidthsand channel capacities, the television programming and televisionprogram control information may be divided into parts such as priorityone, two, three. The large bandwidth cable TV systems can accommodateall the parts of the television programming and all parts of thetelevision programming control information. Those cable TV systems witha more limited bandwidth are able to use the program delivery system 200by only accepting the number of parts that the cable system can handlewithin its bandwidth.

For instance, as is shown in FIG. 3 c, three cable television systemswith different bandwidths may use the program delivery system 200simultaneously with each system accepting only those parts of theinformation sent which it is capable of handling. Priority onetelevision programming and menus 230 are accepted by all three systems.Priority two television programming and menus 233 are not accepted bythe cable television system whose capacity is the smallest or in thiscase 330 mHz (40 channels) system. Priority two television programmingand menus 233 are accepted and used by the two larger capacity cabletelevision systems shown. Priority three television programming andmenus 236 are only used by the largest capacity television system whichis capable of handling all three parts—Priority one, two and threeprogramming and menu information.

With this division of television programming and menus, the programdelivery system 200 may be utilized simultaneously by a variety ofconcatenated cable systems with varying system capacities. By placingthe heavily watched or more profitable programming and menus in thePriority one division, both users and owners of the cable TV systemswill be accommodated as best as possible within the limited bandwidth.

FIG. 3 d shows three different cable headend 208 systems, each systemreceiving the entire satellite signal from the Operations Center 202 andstripping those parts of the signal which cannot be handled by the localcable system due to bandwidth limitations. In this particularembodiment, the three local cable television systems shown havebandwidth limitations which correspond with the bandwidth limitationsdepicted in the previous FIG. 3 c. As the bandwidth decreases, theprogramming options available to the viewer in the exemplary on-screenmenu decreases. Using this preferred embodiment, the Operations Center202 is able to send one identical signal to the satellite 206 that issent to all the cable headends. Each cable headend 208 accepts theentire signal and customizes the signal for the local cable system bystripping those portions of the Operations Center 202 signal that areunable to be handled by the local cable system. An alternate embodimentrequires the Operations Center 202 to send different signals forreception by different capacity cable headends.

There are several ways in which the cable headend 208 may strip theunnecessary signal from the Operations Center 202. A person skilled inthe art will derive many methods from the three examples discussedbelow. One simple method is for the cable headend 208 receiver toreceive the entire signal and then manipulate the signal to strip awaythose unnecessary portions. A second method is for the signal to be sentin three portions with each portion having a separate header. The cableheadend 208 would then recognize the headers and only receive thosesignals in which the proper header is identified. For the second method,the Operations Center 202 must divide the signal into three parts andsend a separate header lead before each signal for each part.

The third and preferred method is for a set of transponders to beassigned to one priority level and each cable headend 208 to receivesignals from the transponders corresponding to the proper prioritylevel. For example, if there are three priority levels and 18transponders, transponders one through nine may be assigned to prioritylevel one, transponders ten through fourteen priority level two, andtransponders fifteen through eighteen assigned to priority level three.Thus, a cable headend 208 capable of operating at priority level twoonly would only receive signals from transponders one through nine, andten through fourteen.

In addition to dividing the television programming and menus into parts,the Operations Center 202 of the preferred embodiment is also capable ofdynamically changing the bandwidth allocation for a particular categoryof programming. FIG. 3 e depicts this dynamic change in bandwidthallocation from a typical week day prime time 238 signal to a Saturdayafternoon in October 240 (during the college football season). FIG. 3 ehighlights the fact that the bandwidth allocated to sports is limited toeight selections during week day prime time 238 but is increased tosixteen selections during a Saturday afternoon in October 240. Thisdynamic increase in bandwidth allocation allows the system toaccommodate changes in programming occurring on an hourly, daily,weekly, monthly, seasonal and annual basis.

In addition to dynamically allocating bandwidth for programmingcategories, the Operations Center 202 can also dynamically change themenu capacities in order to accommodate the change in programming andbandwidth. For example, on a Saturday afternoon in October 240, themajor menu for sports may include a separate subcategory for collegefootball. This subcategory would, in turn, have a separate submenu witha listing of four, six, eight, or more college football games availablefor viewing. In order to accommodate this dynamic menu change, theOperations Center 202 must add a submenu listing to the major sportsmenu, create a new or temporary submenu for college football, andallocate the necessary menu space on the college football submenu.

Once the television programs have been packaged and a program controlinformation signal is generated to describe the various categories andprograms available, the packaged programs are then digitized,compressed, and combined with the program control information signal.Upon the signal's departure from the Operations Center 202 the breakdowninto categories is insignificant and the signal is treated like anyother digitally compressed signal.

FIG. 4 a shows the basic operations that must occur in order for thepackaged signal to be sent to the satellite 206. External digital andanalog signals must be received from television programming sources andconverted to a standard digital format 242, defined above for thecomputer assisted packaging equipment (CAP) 246. Also within theOperations Center 202, stored programs 244 must be accessed using banksof looping tape machines or other video storage/retrieval devices,either analog or digital, and converted to a standard digital format 242prior to use by the CAP 246.

The programmer/packager utilizing the CAP 246 must input a variety ofinformation in order to allow the CAP 246 to perform its function ofgenerating program control information and packaging programs. Some ofthe information required by the CAP 246 are the date, time slots andprogram categories desired by the television programmer.

The CAP 246 system includes one or more CPUs and one or moreprogrammer/packager consoles. In the preferred embodiment, each packagerconsole includes one or more CRT screens, a keyboard, a mouse (or cursormovement), and standard video editing equipment. In large OperationsCenters 202 s multiple packager consoles may be needed for the CAP 246.

As shown in FIG. 4 b, the first step in the operation of the CAP 246 isselecting the type of programming 248 which will be packaged. Basicallythere are 6 broad categories in which most television programming can beclassified: static programming 250, interactive services 252, pay perview 254, live sports specials 256, mini pays 258, and data services.Static programs are programs which will show repetitively over a periodof time such as a day or week. Static programs include movies showingrepetitively on movie channels, children's programs, documentaries,news, entertainment.

Interactive services includes interactive programs using the VerticalBlanking Interval (VBI) or other data streams synchronized with theprogramming to communicate interactive features (such as those used ineducation), and games. Pay per view are programs which are individuallyordered by the subscriber. After ordering, the subscriber is authorizedto access the program for a limited time, (e.g. three hours, two days,etc.). Live sports specials are live events usually related to sportswhich subscribers are unlikely to watch on taped delay.

Mini pays are channels to which each set top box may subscribe. Thesubscriptions for mini pays 258 may be daily, weekly, or monthly. Anexample would be the Science Fiction channel. Data services are servicesin which information is interactively presented to the subscriber usinga modem or other high rate of speed data transfer. Some examples areProdigy, services for airline reservations, and TV guide services (e.g.TV Guide X*PRESSJ, InSightJ, etc.). Data could also include classifiedor other forms of advertising.

After selecting the type of programming, the packager must identify apool of programs (within the category) to be packaged. The next CAP 246step varies for different program categories. For the category of livesports, additional program interstitial elements 262 may be added suchas promos and other sports news before further processing. For the livesports, static, interactive services 252 and pay per view 254 categoriesthe following CAP 246 step is for one television program to be selected264. This is followed by each program individually being assigned datesto be played or a start date (for continuous play) and start times 266.Many dates and start times may be assigned to any given program. Theprogram information for these categories may then be processed forallocation of transponder space and setting of prices.

Mini pays and data services require less processing by the CAP 246.After identifying the mini pays 258, the CAP 246 may proceed toallocation of transponder space and pricing for the mini pays 258. Dataservices in the preferred embodiment generally do not require allocationof transponder space and generally do not require price setting. Theinformation for data services 260 may be directly processed for menuconfiguration. In alternate embodiments the data services 260 may beprocessed through these portions of the CAP 246 program.

The CAP 246 then uses an interactive algorithm to allocate transponderspace 268 and set prices 270. The factors weighed by the algorithmare: 1. buy rates of the program, 2. margin of profit on the program, 3.length of the program, 4. any contractual requirement which overridesother factors (such as requirement to run a specific football game livein its entirety). The information on buy rates of the program may beobtained from the Central Statistical and Billing Site or a RegionalStatistical and Billing Site as will be described later. The CAP 246must consider the priority levels of programming when allocatingtransponder space. Particularly, as in the preferred embodiment,transponders are assigned to three specific priority levels.

Following transponder allocation and price setting, the CAP 246 proceedsto menu configuration 272. The positioning of programs within the menuconfiguration 272 can have an effect on subscriber buy rates for theprogram. Therefore, an algorithm accounting for either a manuallyassigned program importance, or a calculated weight of the programimportance, is used to determine each programs position within the menuscheme. For instance, a popular program with a high profit margin may beassigned a high weight of importance and shown in a prominent place inthe menu scheme. Alternatively, a high profit program with sagging salesmay be manually assigned a prominent place in the program schedule toincrease sales.

After a series of entries by the programmer/packager at the OperationsCenter 202, the CAP 246 displays draft menus or schedules (includingpriority levels) for programming. The packager may now manipulate themenus and schedules and make changes as he feels necessary. After eachchange, the packager may again display the menus or schedules anddetermine if any more changes are necessary. When the packager issatisfied with the menu configuration 272 and scheduling of televisionprograms, he may then instruct the CAP 246 to complete the process.

After menu configuration 272, the CAP 246 may begin the process ofgenerating a program control information signal 274. In order togenerate program control information signals which are specific to aparticular cable headend 208 system, the CAP 246 incorporates cablefranchise configuration information 276. In the preferred embodiment,basic cable franchise configuration information 276 is stored at theOperations Center 202. The cable franchises upload changes to theirspecific franchise information from time to time to the OperationsCenter 202 for storage. Preferably a separate CPU handles the managementof the cable franchise information. From the stored cable franchiseinformation, the CAP 246 generates a cable franchise control informationsignal which is unique to each franchise.

Using the unique cable franchise control information signals 278 and themenu configuration 272 information, the CAP 246 generates the programcontrol information signal 274. The program control information that isunique to a particular cable franchise may be identified in various wayssuch as with a header. With the header identification, the cable headend208 may extract the portions of the program control information signalwhich it needs. Now, the CAP 246 may complete its process byelectronically packaging the programs into groupings 280 for the signaltransmission and adding the program control information to the packagedprograms 282 to form a single signal for transmission. Through manualentries by the packager or by comparing against a list of programs, theCAP 246 will determine whether the programs are arriving from externalsources 204 or sources internal to the Operations Center 202.

Upon completion of the CAP's functions, the Operations Center 202 or theuplink site compresses 284, multiplexes 286, amplifies 288 and modulates290 the signal for satellite transmission 292. In a basic embodiment,the CAP 246 will also allow entry of time slots for local avails whereno national programming will occur.

FIG. 5 is a more detailed flow chart of some of the functions performedby the CAP 246 after an initial program schedule has been entered andmenu configurations generated. The flow chart 300 shows six basicfunctions that are performed by the CAP 246: (1) editing programschedule for local availability 304 (only for non-standard services,i.e. those services that are not national cable services); (2)generating program control information signals 307; (3) processingexternal programs 310; (4) processing internal programs 320; (5)processing live feeds 330; and, (6) packaging of program information340. In an alternate embodiment, the CAP 246 is capable of incorporatinglocal programs and accommodating local availability for local televisionstations.

Following completion of the programming scheduling (accounting for localavailability if necessary) and menu generation 304, the CAP 246 mayperform three tasks simultaneously, generating program informationsignals 307, processing external programs 310 and processing internalprograms 320.

The CAP 246 automatically identifies external programs needed 312 andidentifies which external feed to request the external program 314. TheCAP 246 gathers and receives the external programming information andconverts it to a standard digital format 316 for use. The CAP 246 alsoidentifies internal programs 322, accesses the internal programs 324,and converts them to a standard digital format if necessary 326. Inaddition, the CAP 246 identifies live signal feeds 333 that will benecessary to complete the packaged programming signal 336. In its finaltask, the CAP 246 completes the packaging of the programs, combines thepackaged program signal with the program control information signal,amplifies the signal and sends it out for further processing prior touplink.

In the preferred embodiment, the Operations Center 202 and uplink ormaster control site are collocated. However, the Operations Center 202and uplink site may be located in different geographical places. Also,functions and equipment within the Operations Center 202 may be remotelylocated. For instance, the program storage may be at a different siteand the programs may be sent to the CAP 246 via landline.

In alternate embodiments using multiple Operations Centers, it ispreferred that one Operation Center be designated the Master OperationsCenter and all other Operations Centers be Slave Operations Centers. TheMaster Operations Center performs the functions of managing andcoordinating the Slave Operations Centers. Depending on the method inwhich the Slave Operations Centers share functions, the MasterOperations Center coordination function may involve synchronization ofsimultaneous transmissions from multiple Slave Operations Centers. Toperform its functions, the Master Operations Center may include a systemclock for synchronization.

An efficient method of dividing tasks among Operations Centers is toassign specific satellite transponders to each Operations Center 202 andto assign external program sources 204 to the nearest Operations Center.Of course this division of resources may not always be possible. Sinceprogramming will be grouped into priority levels with each prioritylevel likely to be assigned specific satellite transponders, it is alsopossible to assign each Operations Center to a priority level. Forexample, in a three priority level system with two Slave OperationsCenters and 18 transponders, the Master Operations Center may beassigned priority level 1 and assigned 9 transponders. Slave OperationsCenter A may be assigned priority level 2 and 5 transponders, whileSlave Operations Center B is assigned priority level 3 and 4transponders. In a multiple Operations Center configuration dynamicbandwidth allocation and dynamic menu capacity allocation become morecomplex and must be coordinated by the Master Operations Center.

Similar to multiple Operations Centers, a delivery system may havemultiple satellite uplinks. Preferably each Operations Center has one ormore uplink sites. Each Operations Center controls the functions of itsassigned uplink sites and may assign one site as a master uplink site.

The program control information signal generated by the OperationsCenter provides data on the scheduling and description of programs tothe network controller 214 or in an alternate configuration directly tothe set top terminal 220 for display to the subscriber. In the preferredembodiment, the program control information signal is stored andmodified by the network controller 214 and sent to the set top terminal220 in the form of a set top terminal control information stream(STTCIS). This configuration is required to accommodate differences inindividual cable systems and possible differences in set top terminaldevices. The set top terminal 220 integrates either the program controlsignal or the set top terminal control information stream together withdata stored in the memory of the set top terminal 220, to generateon-screen displays for assisting the subscriber in choosing the programshe wishes to view. (Throughout the description the term “program controlinformation” is being used to indicate control information coming fromthe cable headend 208 to the set top terminal 220, whether it is sentdirectly from the Operations Center, processed by the Network controller214 and then forwarded to the set top box (STTCIS), or transmitted overtelephone lines.)

The types of information that can be sent via the program control signalinclude: number of program categories, names of program categories, whatchannels are assigned to a specific category (such as specialtychannels), names of channels, names of programs on each channel, programstart times, length of programs, description of programs, menuassignment for each program, pricing, whether there is a sample videoclip for advertisement for the program, and any other program, menu orproduct information.

The goal of the menu driven program selection system is to allow thesubscriber to choose a program by touring through a series of menusutilizing a remote control for cursor movement. The final choice in theseries of menus will identify one particular channel and one time foractivation of that channel. Armed with a channel and activation time theset top terminal 220 can display the selected program on the televisionfor the viewer. To achieve this goal a simple embodiment assigns anintelligent alpha-numeric code to each program. This alpha-numeric codeidentifies the category of the program, the menu in which the programshould be displayed, its transmission time(s), and the position on themenu that the program should be displayed.

In this simple embodiment, the program control information, includingthese menu codes, is sent continuously from the Operations Center to thenetwork controller 214, and ultimately to the set top terminal 220. Forexample, four hours worth of programming information can be sent via theprogram control information signal continuously in the format shown inFIG. 6.

FIG. 6 shows the basic information that is needed by the set topterminal 220. The program descriptions shown are coded abbreviations.For example, C for comedy, N for news, S for sports, A for cartoons, andTX for text. If there is a textual description for a program, such as amovie, the description may be given following that program's codeddescription or may be communicated following the four hours' worth ofprogramming information. As is shown in the coded listing, programdescriptions for programs greater than a half hour in length need not berepeated (each half hour). The video description code informs the settop terminal 220 of whether there is still or live video available toadvertise the program.

For example, a sporting program may be assigned a code ofB35-010194-1600-3.25-Michigan St. vs. USC. The letter B would assign theprogram to category B, sports. The second alpha-numeric character number3 would assign the program to the third menu of the sports category. Thethird character of the code, number 5, assigns the program to the fifthprogram slot on the third menu. The next six characters, 01/01/94,represent the date. The following four characters, 1600 represent thestart time which is followed by the length of the program and theprogram name. This entry represents a sports show, a college footballgame, which will be aired at 4:00 PM on New Years day 1994.

In the 12:30 Channel 1 entry of FIG. 6, two menu codes are shown. Byallowing two menu codes, programs that may fit under two differentcategory descriptions may be shown in both menus to the subscriber. Withthis minimal amount of information being communicated to the set topterminal 220 on a regular basis, the terminal is able to determine theproper menu location for each program and the proper time and channel toactivate for the subscriber after his menu selection.

The program control information signal and STTCIS can be formatted in avariety of ways and the on-screen menus can be produced in manydifferent ways. For instance, if the program control information signalcarries no menu format information, the menu format for creating themenus can be fixed in ROM at the set-top terminal. This method allowsthe program control signal to carry less information but has the leastflexibility since the menu formats can not be changed without physicallyswapping the ROM holding the menu format information. In the preferredembodiment, the menu format information is stored at the set topterminal 220 in temporary memory either in a RAM or EPROM. Thisconfiguration provides the desired flexibility in the menu format whilestill limiting the amount of information needed to be communicated viathe program control information signal. New menu format informationwould be sent via the program control information signal or the STTCISto the set top terminals each time there was a change to a menu.

In the simplest embodiment, the menus remain fixed and only the textchanges. Thus, the program control information signal can be limited toprimarily text and a text generator can be employed in the set topterminal 220. This simple embodiment keeps the cost of the set topterminal 220 low and limits the bandwidth necessary for the programcontrol information. Another simple embodiment uses a separate channelfull-time (large bandwidth) just for the menu information.

As will be described later, live video signals may be used in windows ofcertain menus. These video signals can be sent via the program controlinformation signal, STTCIS, or can be taken off channels beingtransmitted simultaneously with the menu display. If the video signal istaken off a channel, less information needs to be sent via the programcontrol information signal. However, this technique requires thatseparate decompression hardware be used for the program controlinformation and the channel carrying the video. Separate decompressorsfor the video signals and program information signal allows for thegreatest flexibility in the system and is therefore the preferredembodiment. A separate decompressor also assists in assuring that theswitch from menus to television programming is smooth and without anysignificant time delay.

Live video for menus, promos or demos may be sent to the set topterminal 220 in several ways: a) on a dedicated channel, b) on a regularprogram channel and scaled to size, c) sent along with the programcontrol information signal, etc. However, in the preferred embodiment, agreat deal of short promos or demo video are sent using a split screentechnique on a dedicated channel.

Using a split screen technique, any number of different video clips maybe sent (e.g. 2, 4, 6, 8). To show the video clip on a menu, the videomust either be scaled and redirected to a video window on a menu screenor a masking methodology can be used. Masking involves playing theentire channel of video (all 2, 4, 6, or 8 split screens) in backgroundand masking the unwanted video clip portions of the split screen byplaying the menu in foreground and overlaying the unwanted backgroundvideo. Masking is the least expensive method because it does not requireany special hardware and it increases video throughput to the set topterminal 220. However, using the masking technique without any videoredirecting causes each video clip to be located in a different positionon the screen. It also requires the masking to be different for eachvideo clip and makes consistent format difficult. Scaling andredirecting video is generally difficult, expensive and requiresadditional hardware.

In order to limit the amount of bandwidth needed to transmit the programcontrol information signal, various compression techniques employed fornon-video may be used such as block coding, contour coding, blobencoding, and run-length encoding. Further, the program controlinformation signal may be divided into text and graphics, or video, textand graphics and then recombined at the set top terminal 220 using atext generator, graphics decompression, and video decompression asnecessary.

FIG. 7 a shows a basic block diagram of a digital compression set topterminal 220. In some respects, the set top terminal 220 is similar toother converter boxes currently available and can include a variety oferror detection, decryption 600 and coding techniques such asanti-taping encoding. The set-top terminal must also have a tuner 603,digital demodulator 606, and demultiplexers 609, 616 as well as audioequipment 612, 614. Also shown in FIG. 7 a is a remote control interface626 for receiving and processing signals from remote control unit 900. Amodem 627 is provided for allowing communication between amicroprocessor 602 and the cable head end. NTSC encoder 625 provides anNTSC video output to be output as a standard television signal.

The microprocessor 602 is capable of executing program instructionsstored in memory. These instructions allow a user to access variousmenus by making selections on the remote control 900. The variousprogram instructions for accessing menus and performing other functionsare described below.

The manner in which the video is decompressed and the menus aregenerated from the program control signal or STTCIS varies depending onthe specific embodiment of the invention. However, at a minimum, onevideo decompressor capable of decompressing one video signal must beused. Basic menu format information may be stored in a graphics memorycomprising ROM, non-volatile RAM, EPROM, and/or EEPROM 620. Videodecompressors 618 and 622 may be used if the video is compressed, andadditional equipment to generate menus may be included. In oneembodiment, a separate decompressor 622 is used to process the programcontrol information signal and a video combiner 624 incorporates videoand menu graphic information. In the preferred embodiment, the programsignal is sent with three primary parts, compressed video (or videolocation information), compressed graphics, and text. After the programsignal is demultiplexed into its component parts, a video decompressor,a graphic decompressor, a text generator and a combiner are used toassist in creating the menus.

FIG. 7 b shows a basic block diagram of an alternative digitalcompression set top terminal 220. The same components shown in FIG. 7 aare repeated in FIG. 7 b, and given the same reference number (e.g.,tuner 603, modem 617, NTSC encoder 625, etc.). FIG. 7 b also shows theaddition of a smart card interface 617 to allow additional features tobe included on a smart card insertable into the smart card interface617. Error correction circuitry 607 is also shown receiving thedemodulated signal, prior to demultiplexing the signal. Memoryassociated with the microprocessor 602, the demultiplexer 609, thedecryptor 600, and the video decompressor 618 is shown in FIG. 7 b.

Box 700 in FIG. 7 b shows the elements of an upgrade module which isdescribed below with respect to FIGS. 9 a and 9 b. The remainingcircuitry in FIG. 7 b shows a basic decompression box 720, alsodescribed below.

The circuitry in box 700 includes a video, graphics and textdemultiplexer 616, a text and graphics video plane combiner 624, agraphic decompressor 622 and a graphics memory 620. Graphics in memory620 is preferably run-length compressed, however other methods ofcompressing graphics may be used as is known by those skilled in theart.

The generated menus and video are combined in the combiner 624 andoutput to an anti-taping encoder 619. Any method of anti-tappingencoding known by those skilled in the art may be used with the presentinvention.

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b show front and back views respectively for thepreferred embodiment of the set top terminal 220. The front panel of theset top terminal 220 as shown in FIG. 8 a includes an infrared sensor630 and a series of LED displays 640. These LED displays 640 preferablyindicate with an icon or a letter (e.g. A-K) the major menu currentlyselected by the set top terminal 220. This visual display will remainlit while the subscriber is watching (or listening to) programmingwithin a major menu. The LEDs 640 of the preferred embodiment also showthe channels selected directly by a user, or menu channel selectionswhich range from 1 to 50.

LEDs 640 are preferably provided to indicate a decompression error, aprocessing error, or other error. Text messages may alternatively beprovided to more clearly indicate particular errors to servicemen orsubscribers. These error indications aid in repairing or correcting anysuch errors in the set top terminal 220 or assist in programming the settop terminal 220. Further displays may include current channel, time,volume level, sleep time, parental lock (security), account balance, useof a hardware upgrade, second channel being recorded by VCR, use of theLevel D music hardware upgrade in a separate room, and any otherdisplays useful to a subscriber to indicate the current status of theset top terminal 220.

The LED's 640 may also provide an indication of the digital audiochannel currently tuned. With this display feature, subscribers may usethe digital audio feature without activating the television screen. Thesource of a signal and output selected (e.g., a subscriber's separateaudio system, a VCR, etc.) may be displayed. Although LED's arepreferred, the set top terminal 220 may also use a CRT, LCD's, or otherdisplay technology.

On the right front half of the set top terminal 220 there is a flappedopening 635 into a cavity that allows the insertion of a magneticcartridge (or similar portable storage device, including optical disk,ROM, EPROM, etc.). This cartridge opening 635 allows the set topterminal 220 to be upgraded or reprogrammed locally with the use of amagnetic tape cartridge. Game cartridges may also be accepted through asimilar flapped opening allowing the subscriber to play video gamesusing the set top terminal 220.

On the top or cover of the set top terminal 220 are located pushbuttoncontrols 645. In the preferred embodiment these pushbutton controls 645duplicate the two-part alpha-iconic remote control that will bedescribed later. Any function that can be performed on the remote mayalso be performed at the set top terminal 220 using the duplicativepushbutton controls 645.

FIG. 8 b provides a rear view of one embodiment of the set top terminal220 including the input/output equipment of the terminal. Moving fromleft to right there are a pair of output terminals 650, a pair of inputterminals 652, a pair of stereo/audio output terminals 654, a satellitedish input port 656, a telephone jack 658 and an RS422 port 660. Furtherto the right there is an upgrade port 662 and a cover plate 664 held inplace by a series of sheet metal screws.

The set top terminal 220 has two outputs 650, one for a television andone for a VCR. Control signals may be transmitted through the VCR outputto allow the VCR to be automatically controlled by the set top terminal220. Certain program may be selected by a subscriber from menus, and theVCR will be automatically activated to record the selected program.

The set top terminal 220 is equipped to handle one or two cable inputsby way of inputs 652 for incoming signals. In addition, a phone jack 658and RS242 or 422 port 660 are provided for maintenance, troubleshooting, reprogramming and additional customer features. In alternateembodiments, the telephone jack 658 may be used as the primary mode ofcommunication between the cable headend 208 and the set top terminal220. This connection is possible through the local telephone companies,cellular telephone companies or personal communications networks (PCN).

In an alternative configuration, in areas without cable services wheresubscribers use backyard satellite systems (TV RO) to receive packagedtelevision services, the set top terminal 220 will include theappropriate hardware to allow connection to the satellite 206 receptionequipment through port 656. In this configuration, the menu systemwithin the set top terminal 220 will be programmed directly from theoperations center. Additionally, an upstream communication mechanismmust be in place at the subscriber's home (i.e. modem) to communicateinformation to the operations center.

In order to provide the greatest flexibility possible and prevent theset top terminal 220 from becoming outdated during the terminal's usefullife, an additional electronic card slot or expansion slot has beenbuilt into the preferred embodiment. This expansion slot is covered bythe metal plate cover 664 shown in FIG. 8 b. It is anticipated thatadditional memory or capabilities may be needed for certain customerfeatures and also to update the system as the cable delivery system'scapabilities increase. The expansion slot provides an easy method toupgrade the terminal hardware.

In the preferred embodiment, the set top terminal 220 includes ahardware upgrade port 662 as shown in FIG. 8 b, in addition to theexpansion slots behind plate 664. The hardware upgrade port 662 shouldaccommodate at least a four-wire connection for: (1) error corrected,decrypted data output of the set top terminal 220, (2) controlinterface, (3) decompressed video output of set top terminal 220, and(4) video input port. In the preferred embodiment multiple wires areused to perform each of the four functions. The four sets of wires arecombined in a single cable with a single multipin connector. Port 662may also be used to attach various hardware upgrades below to a set topterminal 220.

In the preferred embodiment, multipin connections may be used for themultiwire cable. The multipin connection 662 may range from DB9 to DB25.A SCSI, or small computer systems interface, port may also be provided.Alternatively, four or more ports may be provided instead of the singleport depicted.

The preferred embodiment has four hardware upgrades available for a settop terminal 220: a Level B interactive unit, a Level C interactive unitwith compact disc capability, a Level D digital radio tuner for separateroom use, and a Level E information download unit. Each of theseupgrades is connected to the set top terminal 220 unit via the sameupgrade port 662 described earlier. The same four wires in a singlecable described earlier may be used.

The Level B interactive unit will allow the user access to online database services for applications such as home shopping, airlinereservations, news, financial services, classified advertising, homebanking, and interactive teletext services. For example, with thisupgrade, a user will be able to reserve plane tickets or buy consumerelectronics. The primary feature of this upgrade unit is that it allowsactual transactions to occur requiring two way communications via modemwith outside services. This added two way communications capability maybe with the cable headend 208. Additionally, this two way communicationsmay occur over cellular or PCN.

The Level C interactive unit will employ a high volume local storagecapacity, including compact disc or other random access digital dataformats. This unit will allow use of interactive multi-mediaapplications. For example, computer games, multi-media educationalsoftware, encyclopedias, other reference volumes (e.g. Shakespearelibrary), etc. In the preferred embodiment, many of these applicationswill interact with live programming providing additional information andinteractivity to the basic program feed. For example, a viewer watchinga show set in a foreign country may be able to retrieve additionalinformation, maps, economic data, etc. about that country that arestored on the compact disc. In the level C applications, the upgradehardware may closely monitor the television broadcast via additionaldata channels (e.g. vertical blanking interval, or other digital dataencoded within live video) providing context sensitive interactivity.

The Level D hardware upgrade, digital radio tuner, will allow thesubscriber separate access to the digital radio channels while otherprogramming (not necessarily radio) is being viewed on the television.Typically this upgrade would be used for digital radio usage in aseparate room from that of the television. The upgrade has a separatetuner, decompressor, and visual display. In the preferred embodiment asecond remote control (scaled down version) is provided to access theaudio system.

The Level E hardware upgrade allows the subscriber to download largevolumes of information from the operations center or cable headend 208.The Level E hardware upgrade will enable subscribers to download datasuch as books to local storage. Primarily the Level E hardware upgradeis additional local storage via hard disk, floppy, optical disk,magnetic cartridge etc. Preferably a small portable reader called“everyBookJ” is also provided with the upgrade to enable downloaded textto be read without the use of a TV.

The downloadable information may be text or video supplied by theoperations center or cable headend 208. With this upgrade, books may bedownloaded and read anywhere with the portable reader. Using thisupgrade video may be downloaded and stored in compressed form for laterdecompression. The video would be decompressed only at the time ofviewing. Important text that the public desires immediate access maymade available through this system. Text such as the President's speech,a new law, or a recent abortion decision rendered by the Supreme Courtmay be made immediately available.

Using a more sophisticated port, especially the SCSI port, multiplehardware upgrade units may be connected, or “daisy-chained” together, tooperate simultaneously.

FIG. 9 a shows sets of wires in a single cable connecting an upgrademodule 700 and the simple decompression box 720 through a port similarto the hardware upgrade port 662. The simple decompression box 720preferably is an industry standard decompression box capable ofcommunicating with an upgrade module to enhance functionality. Forexample, a microprocessor in the simple decompression box 720 will beable to communicate with a microprocessor in an upgrade module 700.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 9 a, if this type of connection is built into asimple decompression box that does not have the full functionality ofthe set top terminal 220, an upgrade module unit 700 may be connectedproviding the simple decompression box 720 with the full functionalityof a set top terminal 220. Subscribers who have purchased simpledecompression boxes 720 may be given all the functions of a set topterminal 220 inexpensively.

In the preferred embodiment, multipin connections may be used for amultiwire cable connecting decompression box 720 with the upgrade module700. The multipin connection may range from DB9 to DB25. A SCSI, orsmall computer systems interface, port may also be provided.Alternatively, four or more ports may be provided instead of the singleport depicted.

The digital data set of output wires of the simple decompression box 720will preferably output error corrected and decrypted data to the upgradeset top terminal 700. The second set of wires, the interface connection,allows the microprocessor in the upgrade module 700 to communicate tothe microprocessor of the simple decompression box 720. In this manner,the video circuitry of the upgrade module 700 and the simpledecompression box 720 may be synchronized. The third set of wires, thedecompressed video output, can provide the upgrade module 700 with adecompressed video signal to manipulate. The fourth set of wires, videoinput set, allows the simple decompression box 720 to accept a videosignal that is a combined text, graphics, and video signal.

Upgrade module 700 preferably includes at least the following circuitry:a video, graphics and text demultiplexer; a text and graphics videoplane combiner; a run-length graphics decompressor; and, a run-lengthcompressed graphics memory (non-volatile RAM, ROM, EPROM, or EEPROM). Bymeans of communications through the multi wire connection betweenupgrade modules 700 and simple decompression box 720, compressed videoand control signals may be demultiplexed by the demultiplexer withinupgrade module 700. The run-length graphics decompressor, bycommunicating with the run-length compressed graphics RAM, permitsdecompression of the input compressed video signal. The text andgraphics video plane combiner in upgrade module 700 allows thedemultiplexed and decompressed signal to be output, through simpledecompression box 720, to a subscriber's television with both video andoverlay menus with text.

FIG. 9 a shows the CATV input 722, the video input 724, and the videoand audio outputs 726, 728, as part of simple decompression box 720.This is the preferred embodiment because this will reduce the componentcost of upgrade module 700. Upgrade module 700 could simply be acartridge insertable into simple decompression box 720. Alternatively,as shown in FIG. 9 b, the CATV input 722, the video input 724 and thevideo and audio outputs 726, 728 may be included as part of upgrademodule 700.

The electronics of the set top terminal 220 must receive signals fromthe Cable headend 208 or Operations Center and separate the programcontrol information from the packaged programs. After separation of theprogram control information, this signal may be used to generate programmenus allowing the user to select specific television programs fromwithin the packaged programs. After selection of a particular program,the set top terminal 220 will demultiplex and extract a single channelsignal then decompress the appropriate channel signal to allow the userto watch his selected program. Although the set top terminal 220 can beequipped to decompress all the program signals, this adds unnecessarycost since the subscriber will view one channel at a time. Upon theoccurrence of an error in this selection and decompression procedure,the set top terminal 220 LED display will warn the subscriber of anerror.

During the normal functioning of the set top terminal 220 the LEDdisplay can be customized by the user to display the time, the programchannel, VCR activation or other pertinent information. Although the settop terminals may be operated using the keyboards located on top of theset top terminal 220 box, it is expected that most subscribers will usethe remote control.

Although the preferred embodiment decompresses one channel at a time forthe viewer, users who desire to use the picture-on-picture capability oftheir televisions can be provided with an upgrade to the set topterminal 220 allowing two channels to be tuned and decompressed at anygiven time. Once two signals are available to the television thepicture-on-picture capability may be utilized to its fullest potential.With the picture-on-picture capability available in the set top terminal220, a special television is not required for picture-on-picturefunctionality.

In the preferred embodiment all of the customer features available onthe set top terminal 220 will be controllable via on-screen menudisplays. In this manner, the subscriber using a cursor may easilycustomize the programming of his set top terminal 220. The basicprogramming of each set top terminal 220 will be located on ROM withinthe set top terminal 220. Random access memory, the magnetic cartridgecapability, and the extension card slot will each allow upgrades andchanges to be easily made to the set top terminal 220.

In the preferred embodiment, the set top terminal 220 will includefeatures that are now being adopted in the industry such as parentalcontrols and locks, electronic diagnostics and error detection, mute,on-screen volume control, sleep timer, recall of last selection, etc.Each of these features has a corresponding menu that allows on-screencustomizing and activation of the feature. The set top terminal 220 alsoincludes a sophisticated favorite channel list and favorite programlist.

In addition to all the features that the set top terminals supports withits current internal programming, additional features may be added orexisting features upgraded through remote reprogramming of the set topterminal 220. Utilizing the resident operating system on the ROM, thecable head end is able to reprogram the random access memory of the settop terminal 220. With this capability the cable head end can remotelyupgrade software on the set top terminals.

In the preferred embodiment, the cable head end will reprogram the menuformat from time to time based upon special events or programming needs,such as Olympic telecasts, presidential elections, etc. Thisreprogramming will occur by using the program control informationchannel and sending the appropriate signals over this channel. In analternative embodiment, one channel is dedicated for the specialprogramming needs. When reprogramming is to occur, the cable head endwill send an interruption sequence on the program control informationchannel that informs the set top terminal 220 that reprogramminginformation is to follow. Significant reprogramming of the set topterminals will occur infrequently. However, the changing of color orformats on menus occur more often. In alternative embodiments, colorchanges to menus may be accomplished via the program control informationitself and does not require reprogramming from the cable head end.

In the preferred embodiment, the basic building blocks or templates ofthe on-screen menu displays will be stored on graphics memory consistingof no-volatile RAM, ROM, EPROM, or preferably, EEPROM, as shown as 620in FIG. 10. With the information from this graphics memory 620, themicroprocessor 602, graphics decompressor 622, text generator 621 (ifnecessary), and video combiner 624 will build a menu screen. The memoryfiles of the graphics memory or EEPROM 620 are preferably categorizedinto three categories, background graphics 800, logo graphics 820, andmenu and display graphics 850.

A background graphics file 800 will store menu backgrounds such as:universal main menu backgrounds 804, universal submenu backgrounds 808,promo backgrounds 812 and custom menu formats 816. A logo graphics file820 will store any necessary logos such as: Your Choice TV logos 824,Network logo files 828, cable system logo files 832, studio logo files836, and graphic elements file 840. A menu display and cursor graphicsfile 850 will store menu display blocks 854 and cursor highlightoverlays 858 as well as any other miscellaneous files needed to buildthe menus.

Using this method of storing menus, the menus can be changed byreprogramming the graphics memory 620 of the set top terminal 220. Torevise the entire design of displayed menus, the network controller 214or operations center instructs the EEPROM 620 to be erased andreprogrammed with new menu templates. To change one menu format or logo,the network controller 214 or operations center instructs just the onelocation in memory to be erased and rewritten. Obviously, this menureprogramming can be done locally (at the set top terminal 220) by aservicemen.

As shown in FIG. 10 a, each memory subfile is further divided intovarious memory blocks. For example, the background graphics file 800contains the universal main menu backgrounds 804. The universal mainmenu backgrounds memory 804 includes memory units UM1, UM2 and UM3, asshown in FIG. 10 a. Similarly, the logo graphics file 820 and menudisplay and curser graphics file 850 further contain within thosesubfile individual memory blocks (for example, studio logo file 836 hasmemory block SL1; menu display blocks 854 has memory menu display blockMD1).

FIG. 10 b shows the hierarchical storage of text transmitted from thecable head end as STTSCIS. Although text may be continuously transmittedwith the video signals to set top terminals 220, text may also betransmitted intermittently. In such a case, the text is stored in theset top terminal. Preferably, the text is transmitted and stored in acompressed format using known techniques. Additionally, the text ispreferably stored in graphic memory 620 within set top terminal 220.

Depending upon the use of the text, it will be stored in one of threeportions of memory. Information sent with the text will either directthe text to a particular portion of memory, or include information as tothe priority of text. The microprocessor 602 may then direct the text tothe appropriate memory location for storage.

If the text is to be used frequently and over a long period of time, along term storage 875 will be used. If the text will be used for ashorter period of time (for example, a month), the text will be directedto an intermediate storage area 877. If the text is to be used almostimmediately, or for a short period of time (for example, within a fewdays) the text is directed to a short term storage area 879.Microprocessor 602 locates the appropriate text required for aparticular menu and retrieves it from the appropriate portion of memory620. The text is output from the graphics memory 620 to the textgenerator 621. Text generated from the text generator 621 is thereafterdirected to text/graphics combiner 624.

FIG. 10 c shows the steps performed by the microprocessor 602 forcreating a menu based upon a series of overlay screens. Theseinstructions are stored in memory within the set top terminal 220.Alternatively, these instructions or routines are transmitted from theoperations center 202 to be stored in memory within the individual settop terminals 220.

Initially, microprocessor 602 instructs tuner 603 to select a channel.The channel is decompressed, and error corrected and decrypted, ifnecessary. If the video is to be reduced in size, so as to be placedwithin a video window 1556, or is a split screen video window which mustbe enlarged, the video is scaled to the appropriate size. Additionally,the video may be required to be redirected to a portion of thetelevision screen. This is done by creating a series of offsets for eachpixel location of the video.

Graphics must also be used to create a menu in most instances. As isshown in block 882, the microprocessor 602 must fetch a background file,fetch a logo file and fetch a menu display and cursor file in mostinstances. Each of these files must be decompressed. Followingdecompression, the file is sent to video combiner 886.

Similarly, microprocessor 602 must fetch text, as shown in block 884.Depending upon the memory location of the text, microprocessor 602 willfetch the text for long-term, intermediate-term, or short-term storage,as described above. Based upon this memory retrieval, the text isgenerated and sent to video combiner 886. Video combiner 886 combinesthe video (if any) with as many screens of a decompressed graphics asare necessary, and any text. The image or portions of the image arestored in combiner 886 until all overlays are received by combiner 886.Thereafter, the entire image is sent, under direction of anotherroutine, to be displayed on the television screen, as represented bydisplay block 888.

FIG. 10 d is a full chart of programming instructions performed bymicroprocessor 602 for sequencing menus. Upon powerup of the set topterminal 220, start up routine 890 is performed. Any error checking isthereafter performed (891), and introductory menu subroutine 892 isperformed. This subroutine displays the introductory menu and themicroprocessor thereafter awaits for an input 893.

If the subscriber inputs a channel selection 894, video for theparticular channel is decompressed 895. Otherwise, the microprocessorperforms another routine 896 to display the home menu 897.

At the home menu portion of the sequence of routines, a subscriber mayselect one of the major menus, thus starting the sequence of displaysrepresented by routine block 898. Alternatively, a subscriber may godirectly to a major menu by depressing a menu select button on remote900 and the microprocessor will execute another the go to submenusubroutine 896.

Once a subscriber has selected a major menu, the appropriate subroutinesare executed by the microprocessor using a series of instructions shownin block 898. After each display, microprocessor 602 awaits for aselection by the subscriber, shown as block 899. These blocks could bealso represented as decision blocks.

After displaying the major menu, and receiving a selection by the user,a particular submenu for a subcategory is displayed, if such a menuexists. Again, microprocessor 602 waits for an input from the subscriberafter executing a routine to display a program listing submenu.Thereafter, after receiving an input, microprocessor 602 performs thenext routine for displaying a program description submenu. Thereafter,if a particular selection requires a confirmation menu, that subroutineis executed and the appropriate menu displayed. Thereafter, the selectedvideo is decompressed, and displayed on the television screen. If thereare any display overlay menus or hidden menus, the proper subroutine isexecuted by microprocessor 602 and these menus are displayed.

At any time during the selection of menus in major menu block 898, thesubscriber may also depress another major menu button to move into asecond column of process instructions (represented by major menu 2,major menu 3, etc. columns). Thus, a subscriber may move from major menuto major menu. Additionally, a subscriber may depress a home menu buttonon remote 900 to return to the home menu at any time.

The various subroutines executed by microprocessor 602 allow asubscriber to navigate through the various menus of the presentinvention. A subscriber may sequence back through menus or return to thehome menu with a one-touch return of the home menu button on remote 900.All of these functions help to add to the system's user friendliness.

As shown in FIGS. 11 a and 11 b, a two-section remote control is shown.To reduce costs and make the set top terminal 220 as user friendly aspossible, a standard television remote control 860 is augmented byadding a new section 862 that provides the additional digital menuaccess and ordering functions. FIG. 11 a depicts the addition of menuaccess and cursor movement control to a Gerald RC 650 Remote Control.The cursor movement and function buttons required for the set topterminal's operation may be added to any standard remote control formatallowing the user to feel more at home with the new remote control. FIG.11 b shows the two section remote control combined in a single unit 864.

The remote control 864 has an ordering button 866, four-way cursormovement, and a “go” button 868, and menu access buttons 870. The remoteoperates using infrared with the signals being received by the infraredsensor on the front of the set top terminal 220.

In the simplest embodiment the remote may be built with only cursormovement and a go button. In more sophisticated embodiments the remotecontrol may be provided with buttons that are programmable to performspecific functions for a series of entries. An intelligent or smartremote would increase both the cost and capability of the set topterminal 220 system. Using this augmented remote control the subscribercan navigate the program menu system of the set top terminal 220.

FIGS. 12 a and 12 b show an alternative and preferred embodiment of theremote control for use in the present invention. The standard televisionreceiver remote control switches or buttons 920 are again separated fromthe menu accessing ordering function buttons 950. The standardtelevision receiver remote control buttons 920 include volume control,channel select, power and signal source buttons. The menu buttons 950include cursor movement and select, menu select, and pay televisionbuttons. However, the standard buttons 920 are separated from the menuaccess and ordering buttons 950 in the longitudinal direction of theremote, as opposed to the width-wise separation, shown in FIG. 11 a.Additionally, the color of the buttons or the surrounding background maydiffer between the standard television remote control buttons 920 andthe menu buttons 950 to visually differentiate between these two groupsof buttons.

The width and depth of the remote control unit 900 are considerably lessthan the length to allow the remote control unit 900 to fit easilywithin a user's palm. The remote control unit 900 in preferably has thecenter of mass balanced substantially near the longitudinal middle. Thisallows a user's thumb to naturally be placed in substantially the middleportion of the remote control unit 900, when it is picked up by a user.

Since the center of mass of the remote control unit 900 is placedsubstantially near the longitudinal middle of the remote 900, therebyhaving a user's thumb naturally fall in this same center region, thestandard remote 920 and menu access 950 switches or buttons mostfrequently accessed and depressed by a user are placed within easy reachof the user's thumb. Channel and volume increment and decrement buttons910 are placed near this center of mass and longitudinal center line.The channel buttons 910 are preferably beveled in opposing directions toallow a user to feel for and press a desired button without looking downat remote 900. Similarly, the volume buttons 910 are preferably beveledin opposing directions for the same reason.

Additionally, the channel buttons 910 could have a surface texturedifferent from those of the volume buttons 910 to allow even easierdifferentiation between channel and volume buttons 910. For example, thevolume buttons could have a rough surface texture, while the channelbuttons could have a smooth surface texture.

Also placed in the longitudinal center, within easy reach of a user'sthumb, are cursor movement buttons 970 and “go” button 975. The “go”button 975 selects an option corresponding to the placement of thecursor. As opposed to buttons, a joystick may be used with a selectionon the stick, or a trackball, depressible for selecting a desiredchoice. The cursor buttons 970 are placed ninety degrees apart, with the“go” button 975 placed within the center of the cursor movement buttons970, as shown in FIG. 12 b. The cursor movement buttons 970 arepreferably beveled inwardly toward the “go” button 975. The “go” button975 is recessed below the level of the cursor movement buttons 970 sothat it is not accidentally pressed while depressing the cursor movementbuttons 970. In addition to the beveling on the cursor movement buttons970, they may also have a surface texture to allow a user to feel forand select the appropriate button without looking down at the remote900. Directional arrows could be raised or recessed on the surface ofthe cursor movement buttons 970 for this purpose.

Menu select buttons 960 are placed near buttons 970 as shown in FIG. 12b. Menu select buttons 960 are preferably the largest buttons on remote900. Menu select buttons 960 preferably have icons or other graphicsimprinted on their top surface or adjacent to the corresponding button.For example, a button for the sports major menu may contain a baseballicon. The icons represent the programming available on the particularmajor menu selected by the menu select buttons 960. The icons may alsobe raised above the level of the menu select buttons to provide atextured surface. This would allow a user to select an appropriate menubutton 960 by feel, without looking at the remote control unit 900. Theicons would require substantial differences in texture, while stillproviding a meaningful graphic related to the associated menu.

As shown in FIGS. 12 a and 12 b, labels and icons are provided for thefollowing major menus: movies, sports, children's programming,documentary/news, entertainment, magazines, programming guide, HDTV(high definition television), interactive TV, music, and an additionalbutton for further programming. Menu select buttons 960 may also belabeled A through J for the above programs, with the last button for alladditional major menus labeled K-Z.

The layout of the user select buttons for the remote 900 have beendesigned to allow a user to select an appropriate button without viewingthe remote by using the layout of buttons shown in FIGS. 12 a and 12 b,in conjunction with textured or beveled buttons. With this“eye-off-of-the-remote” construction, most of the frequently usedbuttons may be located by the sense of touch alone. However, to aidselection of an appropriate button visually, certain buttons may havedifferent colors. For example, the menu select buttons 960 may all be ofa color different from the rest of the buttons on the remote 900.Additionally, the colors should be selected to provide for easy locationand identification by a user. For example, if the icons are printed inblack ink, yellow menu select buttons 960 are preferred, because yellowwould provide the greatest visual contrast with the black ink.

Although remote 900 is described with a variety of channel selectionbuttons, nearly all buttons from a standard remote control (section 920buttons) could be eliminated. The present invention would allow asubscriber to use a remote control containing only menu select buttonsand/or cursor movement and select buttons.

The power button 924 and “go” button 975 preferably have a separatecolor from the other buttons on the remote 900. The power button 924 ispreferably a separate color because this button is used infrequently.The power button is placed out of a user's thumb's reach so it is notaccidentally depressed. The power button 924 should be distinguishedfrom the other buttons because a television viewer must locate thisbutton first before viewing any programming. Similarly, the “go” button975 is used often because it provides the means for a user to selectoptions, and thus should be easily distinguished from the other buttons.

Pay television buttons 980 may also be assigned a color different fromthe other buttons on the remote 900. By making the pay televisionbuttons 980 a different color, it would help a user to avoid selectingan undesired pay television program.

As used herein, “button” is contemplated to include all manner ofswitches or touch sensitive circuitry to activate a particular functionin the remote control unit 900. Additionally, although the remotecontrol unit 900 communicates with the set-top box by means of infraredtransmission, other forms of communication are contemplated, includingultrasound, radio frequency and other electromagnetic frequencycommunication.

FIG. 13 shows the basic structure of the program menu system. Althoughthe term “menus” has been used above, the menus could also be seen asdefining zones or categories of programming. The first series of menus,Introductory menu 1000, Home menu 1010, Major Menus 1020, and Submenus1050 execute subscriber program selection inputs. The During programmenus 1200 provide a subscriber with additional features or optionsafter a program has been selected and shown. There are two primary typesof During program menus 1200, Hidden Menus 1380 and Program OverlayMenus. Both are described in the following text and figures. The menusequence and each menu structure has been particularly program designedusing the “eye-off-the-remote” design concept. A subscriber can easilynavigate through the menu system with the cursor movement and “go”buttons 970, 975. Since the subscriber never needs to take his eye offthe television screen, the cable operator is likely to have thesubscriber's complete attention.

The introductory menu screen 1000 automatically appears upon power-upand initialization of the set top terminal 220. The introductory menuscreen 1000 welcomes the user to the cable system and provides importantannouncements or messages. In addition, the introductory menu 1000 canbe used to inform the subscriber if he has a personal or group messagethat has been sent to his set top terminal 220 by the cable headend. Thesubscriber may then access the personal or group message with anappropriate key entry while viewing the introductory menu 1000. Sincethe introductory menu 1000 must be viewed by each subscriber, it alsoprovides an opportunity for the cable provider to run advertisements.

Following the introductory menu screen 1000 the subscriber will normallybe advanced to the home menu screen 1010. The home menu 1010 is thebasic menu that the subscriber will return to make his first level ofviewing decisions. From the home menu 1010, the subscriber is able toaccess all television programming options. Some programming options maybe accessed through cursor movement on the screen, others directly by abutton selection on the remote control 900, or both, on-screen selectionand remote control 900 direct access.

In the normal progression through the menu screens, the subscriber willbe forwarded to a major menu screen 1020 that correlates to his directremote control 900 selection or selection from the home menu screen1010. The selections on the home menu 1010 are for large categories ofprogramming options and therefore the major menu 1020 allows thesubscriber to further refine his search for the television program ofhis choice.

Following the major menu 1020 the subscriber will navigate through oneor more submenu screens 1050 from which he will choose one particularprogram for viewing. For most programming selections the user willproceed from the home menu 1010 to a major menu 1020 and then to one ormore submenus 1050. However, for certain programming options orfunctions of the set top terminal 220 the user may skip one or moremenus in the sequence. For example, in the preferred embodiment thesubscriber may directly access a major menu 1020 by pressing a singleicon button. In an alternative embodiment, the introductory menu 1000will provide the user with the capability of directly accessinginformation on his cable television account without proceeding through aseries of menus.

The series of menus shown in FIG. 13 is the normal or standard formatfor a variety of alternative embodiments to the present invention. Anintroductory screen upon power up that contains important messages,followed by a home menu 1010 with major programming categories is thebasis upon which many alternative embodiments of the menu drivenselection process can be built.

Skipping a sequence or level of the menu structure is possible andperhaps desired in certain instances. In simple alternate embodiments itis possible to combine the home menu 1010 and introductory menu 1000into one menu that performs both functions. It will be obvious to oneskilled in the art that the specific functions of the Home menu 1010 andIntroductory menu 1000 may be exchanged or shared in a number of ways.It is also possible to allow a user to skip directly from theintroductory menu 1000 to a submenu 1050. This can be accomplished mosteasily with a separate direct access remote control 900 button.Generally, a subscriber will access a television program throughexecution of a submenu 1050.

The During program menus 1200 are enacted by the set top terminal 220only after the subscriber has selected a television program. These menusprovide the subscriber with additional functionality and/or additionalinformation while he is viewing a selected program. The During programmenus 1200 sequence can be further subdivided into at least two types ofmenus, Hidden Menus 1380 and Program Overlay Menus 1390.

To avoid disturbing a subscriber during viewing of a program, the HiddenMenus 1380 are not shown to the subscriber but instead “reside” at theset top terminal 220 microprocessor. The Hidden Menus 1380 do not effectthe selected program audio. The microprocessor awaits a button entryeither from the remote 900 or set top terminal 220 buttons beforeexecuting or displaying any Hidden Menu options. The Hidden Menus 1380provide the subscriber with additional functions such as entering aninteractive mode or escaping from a selected program.

Program Overlay Menus 1390 are similar to Hidden Menus 1380 in that theyoccur during a program. However, the Program Overlay Menus 1390 areoverlayed onto portions of the television screen and not hidden. TheProgram Overlay Menus 1390 allow the subscriber to continue to watch theselected television program with audio but place additional informationon portions of the television screen. Most overlays cover small portionsof the screen allowing the subscriber to continue to comfortably viewhis program selection. Other Overlays which are by their nature moreimportant than the program being viewed will overlay onto greaterportions of the screen. In the preferred embodiment, some ProgramOverlay Menus 1390 reduce or scale down the entire programs video screenand redirect the video to a portion of the screen.

All menu entries may be made either from buttons available on the topcover of the set top terminal 220 or from the remote 900.

FIG. 14 a shows the preferred embodiment for subscriber selection oftelevision programming. FIG. 14 b shows additional major menu 1020categories, 1042, 1044, 1046, 1048, which may be used with theinvention. Again, the introductory menu 1000 followed by the home menu1010 is the preferred sequence of on-screen displays. In the preferredembodiment shown in 14 a, the home menu 1010 provides a choice of tenmajor menus 1022, 1024, 1026, 1028, 1030, 1032, 1034, 1036, 1038, 1040.Upon selection of a major menu 1020 category from the home menu 1010,the program proceeds to a major menu 1020 offering further viewerselections. Each major menu 1020 is customized to target the expectedviewership. Depending on the number of available program choices themajor menus 1020 either breakdown the major category into sub-categoriesor provide the subscriber with access to further information on aparticular program.

For example, the major menu 1020 for children's programming provides alist of subcategories 1052 from which the subscriber selects. Uponselection of a subcategory a submenu 1054, 1056 listing program choiceswithin that sub-category is shown to the subscriber. Upon selection of aparticular programming choice within the first submenu 1050, thesubscriber is then provided with a second submenu 1058 describing theprogram that the subscriber has selected. From this menu, the subscribermay now confirm his program choice and receive a confirmation submenu1060 from the set top terminal 220 software.

Since the system utilizes digital signals in compressed format, HighDefinition Television programming can also be accommodated through themenu system. In addition, since the set top terminal 220 has two waycommunication with the cable headend, interactive television programmingis possible, with return signals generated by the set top terminal 220.Similarly, the system can support “movies on demand” where a subscribercommunicates through the set top terminal 220 with an automated facilityto order movies stored at the facility.

Using this on-screen menu approach to program selection, there is nearlyan unlimited number of menus that can be shown to the subscriber. Thememory capability of the set top terminal 220 and the quantity ofinformation that is sent via the program control information signal arethe only limits on the number of menus and amount of information thatcan be displayed to the subscriber. The approach of using a series ofmenus in a simple tree sequence is both easy for the subscriber to useand simply implemented by the set top terminal 220 and remote controldevice 900 with cursor movement. A user interface software programmerwill find many obvious variations from the preferred embodiment shown.

FIGS. 15 a and 15 b show examples of introductory menu screens that aredisplayed on the subscriber's television. FIG. 15 a, the preferredembodiment, welcomes the subscriber to the cable system and offers thesubscriber three options. The subscriber may choose regular cabletelevision (channels 2 through 39), programs on demand (e.g., movies),or instructions on the use of the remote control 900. Other basicprogram options are possible on the introductory menu screen 1000. Forexample, instead of, or in addition to, the remote control 900instructions, a system “help” feature can be offered on the introductorymenu 1000.

FIG. 15 b shows an alternate embodiment for the introductory menu screen1000. In the upper left-hand corner of the menu, there is a small window1002 that may be customized to the subscriber. A subscriber will begiven the option of showing the current time in this window. In theupper right-hand corner a second customized window 1004 is available inwhich a subscriber may show the day and date. These windows may beeasily customized for subscribers to show military time, European date,phase of the moon, quote of the day, or other informational messages.These windows may be customized by subscribers using on-screen menudisplays following the introductory menu 1000.

In the preferred embodiment, the subscriber is given the capability ofaccessing base channels such as regular broadcast TV and standard cablechannels directly from the introductory menu 1000 by entering thechannel number. The subscriber is also given the capability of directlyaccessing his account with the cable company. Further, in the preferredembodiment, the subscriber may directly access a major menu 1020 andbypass the home menu screen 1010. If the subscriber is familiar with theprogramming choices available on the major menus 1020, he may select anicon button 960, or a lettered key (alpha key) from his remote control900 and directly access the desired major menu 1020. If any key entryother than those expected by the set top terminal 220 software programis made, the home menu 1010 is placed on the television screen. Inaddition, after a period of time if no selections are made from theintroductory menu 1000, the program may default to the home menu screen1010.

In the preferred embodiment, TV guide services, listing programsavailable on network schedules, will be available on a major menu, asshown in FIG. 16 a. In the preferred embodiment, the major TV guide menu1036 would offer submenus, such as network schedules for the next sevendays, today's network schedules for the next six hours, and TV guidepicks for the next seven days. If the particular set top terminal 220has been subscribed to the TV guide service, the subscriber may proceedto a submenu showing schedules of programs. If the subscriber choosesthe network schedule submenu 1236, he is offered a list of networkschedules to choose from as shown in FIG. 16 b. If a subscriber were tochoose, for instance, HBO, the submenu 1238 shown in FIG. 16 c wouldappear. This submenu allows a subscriber to choose the program date thatinterests him. Following selection of a date, the subscriber is shown amore specific submenu 1242 listing programs available on the particulardate as shown in 16 d.

Following a program choice, a program description submenu 1244 is placedon the television screen as shown in FIG. 16 e. In addition, from thisprogram description submenu, the viewer may choose to record theselected program on his VCR using the guide record feature.

FIGS. 17 a, 17 b, and 17 c demonstrate the use of promotional menus tosell subscriptions to services in the system. In particular, FIG. 17 ais a promotional menu 1304 for Level A interactive services. Level Ainteractive services offers subscribers additional information aboutprograms such as quizzes, geographical facts, etc. This information maybe received by the set top terminal 220 in several data formatsincluding VBI and in the program control information signal. FIG. 17 bis a promotional menu 1306 for Level B interactive services whichinclude a variety of on-line type services such as Prodigy, YellowPages, Airline Reservations, etc.

FIG. 17 c is a promotion menu 1308 for the Level C interactive services.The Level C interactive services utilize local storage such as CDtechnology to offer an enormous range of multi-media experiences. TheLevel C interactive services require a hardware upgrade as describedearlier. Specially adopted CD-I and CD-ROM units are needed for thisservice.

FIGS. 17 d through 17 j show menus that are available using theinteractive Level A services. When interactive Levels A services areavailable in a television program, the system will display theinteractive logo consisting of the letter “I” and two arrows withsemicircular tails. In the preferred embodiment the set top terminal 220will place the interactive logo on the television screen as an overlaymenu 1310. In the preferred embodiment, the set top terminal 220 willdetect that there is data or information available about a televisionprogram which can be displayed to a subscriber using the interactiveservice. When the set top terminal 220 senses that there is interactiveinformation available, it will generate the interactive logo overlaymenu and place it on the television screen. For example, the set topterminal 220 will detect that information on a television program isbeing sent in the vertical blanking interval (VBI) and generate aninteractive logo overlay menu which will appear on the subscriber'stelevision screen for approximately fifteen seconds during each tenminute interval of programming.

When the subscriber sees the interactive logo on his television screen,he is made aware of the fact that interactive services are available inconjunction with his television program. If the subscriber presses hisinteractive remote control button, an additional overlay menu will begenerated by the set top terminal 220 and placed on the screen. Thismenu 1310 is shown in FIG. 17 d being overlayed on an interactivetelevision program. From this menu the subscriber may select interactivefeatures or return to the television program without interactivefeatures.

If the subscriber selects interactive features he will be presented withthe interactive Level A submenu 1312 in FIG. 17 e. From this submenu thesubscriber may choose a variety of different types of textualinteractivity with the current television program. Some examples arequizzes, fast facts, more info, where in the world, products, etc. Atany time during the interactive submenus the user may return to thetelevision program without interactive features.

This interactive submenu has an example of taking a complete televisionprogram video, scaling it down to a smaller size and directing the videointo a video window of a submenu.

FIG. 17 f shows an interactive fast facts submenu 1314. In this submenutextual information is given to the subscriber in the lower half of hisscreen. This textual information will change as additional data isreceived by the set top terminal 220 relating to this televisionprogram.

FIG. 17 g shows the use of the subcategory “more information” in theinteractive service. This submenu 1316 gives additional informationrelated to the television program to the viewer in textual form in thelower half of the screen. FIG. 17 h is an interactive submenu 1318 forthe subcategory “quiz.” In this interactive subcategory, the user ispresented with questions and a series of possible answers. If thesubscriber desires, he selects one of the answers to the quiz question.After his selection, the set top terminal 220 sequences to another menu.The set top terminal 220 sequences to the interactive quiz answerssubmenu which informs the subscriber whether he has chosen the correctanswer or not. FIG. 17 i shows a correctly answered quiz question 1320and FIG. 17 j shows an incorrectly answered quiz question 1324. In thepreferred embodiment, the menu graphics for both of these menus 17 i and17 j is the same. The only difference is in the text which can begenerated by the text generator of the set top terminal 220.

FIG. 18 a is an example of a submenu for Level B interactive services.From this menu screen 1330, any of a number of on-line data servicescould be accessed. In FIG. 18 a, the airline reservations selection hasbeen selected by the subscriber.

FIGS. 18 a through 18 l provide an example of a sequence of menus that asubscriber may encounter with an on-line data service. In particular,this example relates to airline information and reservations and thesubscriber in this sequence is reserving and purchasing airline tickets.FIG. 18 b is an example of the first submenu 1332 for a data serviceoffering various options. In this case, the subscriber has the option ofchecking current reservations or making new reservations. In each ofthese submenus related to a data service, the subscriber is able toreturn to the home menu 1010 or regular cable TV and exit the dataservice. FIG. 18 c requires the subscriber to enter information relatedto his airline reservation in this submenu 1334, such as: domestic orinternational flight, year of flight reservation, month of flightreservation.

FIG. 18 d is another submenu in the airline information and reservationdata service. FIG. 18 d provides an example of how the subscriber maychoose among many options on a single screen 1336. In this manner, thepreferred embodiment of the system can avoid the use of a separatekeyboard for textual entry. Although a separate keyboard may be providedas an upgrade, it is an added expense which some subscribers may wish toavoid. FIG. 18 d shows an “eye off the remote” approach to enteringinformation. FIG. 18 d allows the user to chose the State in which hewill depart and the state in which he will arrive. The airlineinformation reservation submenu 1338 shown in FIG. 18 e allows asubscriber to choose the airports from which he will depart and arriveand also the approximate time period of his departure and his arrival.FIG. 18 f, an airline information and reservation submenu 1340, allows asubscriber to view six available flights. A subscriber may select one ofthe flights to check on its availability.

FIG. 18 g, an airline information and reservation submenu 1342, allows asubscriber to enter the month, day and year for the availability date hedesires. In this submenu, the subscriber is offered the option ofcorrecting any errors in the entered information. This particularsubmenu is for a particular flight, including flight number.

FIG. 18 h, an airline information and reservation submenu 1344, allows asubscriber to view remaining seats available on a flight. From the menu,the subscriber may select his seat assignments. This submenu is anexample of how information may be graphically shown to a subscriberusing a portion of the menu and different coloring schemes. In thismenu, the lower half of the screen shows the passenger compartment of anairplane with all the seat locations graphically represented by squareblocks. By coloring the available seat locations in blue and theunavailable seat locations in a different color, the menu can present agreat deal of information in a limited amount of space. This graphicpresentation of information for the interactive on-line data services isan important method of visually displaying large amounts of informationto the subscriber.

FIG. 18 i, an airline information and reservation submenu 1346, allowsthe subscriber to choose a one-way or round-trip ticket and to confirmhis reservations. If the subscriber desires to proceed, he may chargehis airline ticket to his credit card by choosing the appropriate stripmenu on the lower part of the screen.

FIG. 18 j, an airline information and reservation submenu 1348, is anexample of how credit card purchases may be made using the interactiveon-line data services. In this particular menu, the subscriber ischarging a round-trip plane ticket on his credit card. The subscribersimply needs to enter his credit card number, expiration date, andcredit card type to charge his airline ticket.

FIG. 18 k, an airline information and reservation submenu 1350, is anexample of a menu which may be shown whenever an on-line data service isprocessing a request sent by the subscriber. In this particular menu,the on-line data service is processing the subscriber's credit cardcharge for his airline ticket.

FIG. 18 l, an airline information and reservation submenu 1352, confirmsa subscriber's airline ticket purchase and passes on information onwhere the ticket may be picked up.

FIG. 19 a is a major menu 1038 displaying the digital/audio programchoices which are available for subscribers who have paid the monthlyfee. In a chart format, the major menu shows the top five, top ten, andtop forty songs available in six different categories of music. Belowthe chart, the system is able to provide a text message describing theparticulars of the audio program selected.

The digital/audio feature of the invention allows a subscriber to listento CD quality audio selections through his stereo. This can beaccomplished by running cables directly from the set top terminal 220 tothe subscriber's amplifier/stereo system. Alternatively, the user maylisten to audio selections through his television system.

FIGS. 19 d and 19 e are the same major menu 1038 as FIG. 19 a but showsa different selection and a different program description in the lowertext 1408, 1412. From any of the menu screens for the digital/audiofeature, the subscriber may return to regular cable TV with the press ofa single button.

FIGS. 19 b and 19 c are promotional menus 1400, 1404 for thedigital/audio feature. Using the same logos and menu format, the systemcan provide a text description enticing the subscriber to pay themonthly fee and join the service. In FIG. 19 b, the menu allows the userto test the system with a free demonstration. The menu in FIG. 19 callows the subscriber to request additional promotional informationabout the system. Both FIGS. 19 b and 19 c are representative ofpromotional menus that may be used throughout the menued system.

FIGS. 20 through 28 demonstrate the generation of menu screens.

1. A method of delivering television programming to a plurality ofsubscribers using tiered video, the method comprising: associating afirst video program with a first channel; associating a second videoprogram with a second channel; receiving from a respective subscriberinput device a channel selection chosen by each one of the plurality ofsubscribers; switching to a different channel carrying a different videoprogram not selected by the plurality of subscribers to be displayed ateach television associated with the plurality of subscribers, whereinthe different video program for each one of the plurality of subscribersare not the same, wherein said switching is controlled by a networkcontroller at a head end.
 2. A method of delivering televisionprogramming to a plurality of subscribers using tiered video, the methodcomprising: receiving from a respective subscriber input device achannel selection for display on a respective television of each of theplurality of subscribers, wherein the channel selection chosen by eachone of the plurality of subscribers is the same; associating videoprograms with a plurality of channels; switching to a different channelcarrying a different video program to be displayed at the televisionwithout regard to the channel selection, wherein the different videoprogram is not the same at each respective television of the pluralityof subscribers, wherein said switching is controlled by a networkcontroller at a head end.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein thedifferent video program comprises advertisements that are targeted tothe plurality of subscribers based on a respective profile associatedwith each one of the plurality of subscribers.
 4. A method of deliveringtelevision programming to a plurality of subscribers using tiered video,the method comprising: receiving, at a respective set top terminal, atelevision signal; extracting individual television programs from thesignal; associating the programs with channels available for selectionby the plurality of subscribers using a respective user input device,wherein the programs are displayed on a respective television associatedwith each one of the plurality of subscribers; receiving respective userinformation associated with each one of the plurality of subscribers;storing the respective user information in a respective user profile;associating an advertisement with the respective user profile;associating the advertisement with a channel; displaying, on therespective television, the program associated with a channel selected bythe plurality of subscribers; and displaying, on the respectivetelevision during a break in the selected program, the advertisement,wherein the advertisement is associated with a different channel thanthe selected program, and wherein the step of displaying theadvertisement comprises: switching the respective television to thechannel associated with the advertisement, wherein said switching to thechannel associated with the advertisement is controlled by a networkcontroller at a head end; sending the advertisement to the respectivetelevision, wherein the advertisement is not the same for each of theplurality of subscribers; and returning the respective television to thechannel associated with the selected program after sending theadvertisement.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of receivingrespective user information comprises collecting information aboutviewing habits of the respective user.
 6. The method of claim 4, whereinthe step of receiving respective user information comprises receivingdemographic information, and wherein the step of associating theadvertisement with the respective user profile comprises using a networkcontroller to target the advertisement to one of the plurality ofsubscribers based on the demographic information.
 7. The method of claim4, wherein the step of receiving the television signal comprisesreceiving a television signal sent to a plurality of subscribers havingdifferent user profiles, and wherein the step of displaying theadvertisement comprises displaying for each of the subscribers theadvertisement associated with the subscriber's user profile, wherebydifferent subscribers watching the same program on the same channel mayview different advertisements based on their user profiles.
 8. A set topterminal for use with a television delivery system that uses tieredprogramming to deliver video programs to subscribers, the terminalcomprising: means for receiving a television signal; means forextracting individual programs from the signal; means for receiving aprogram channel selection from a respective user input device of thesubscribers; means for receiving a program associated with the selectionto each respective television of the subscribers, the program beingassociated with a first channel; and means for switching to a commercialassociated with a second channel at each respective television notselected by each respective subscriber, wherein the commercial is notthe same on each respective television of the subscribers, wherein saidmeans for switching is controlled by a network controller at a head end.9. The terminal of claim 8, wherein the means for switching to thecommercial comprises means for switching the respective television fromthe first channel to the second channel before the commercial isdisplayed on the respective television, and means for returning therespective television to the program channel after the commercial isdisplayed.
 10. The terminal of claim 9, wherein the means for switchingand returning comprise means for switching and returning withoutindicating to one of the subscribers that the respective television haschanged channels.